Comparative evaluation of Tunisian Mentha L. species essential oils: selection of potential antioxidant and antimicrobial agents

ABSTRACT

Essential oils of  M. pulegium  L., M. rotundifolia L., M. longifolia L. and M. spicata L. were assessed for their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. M. rotundifolia was distinguished by high amounts of rotundifolone (42.6%), while the main compound in M. pulegium was pulegone (66.1%).  The dominant compounds in M. longifolia oil were pulegone (29.3%) and iso-menthone (25.5%). Carvone (58.7%) was the main constituent of M. spicata. Essential oils of M. longifolia and M. spicata showed the best DPPH activity. M. rotundifolia and M. longifolia exhibited the highest FRAP, and iron-chelating activity. M. pulegium’s essential oil exhibited the best antibacterial activity. The highest antifungal activity was observed for M. rotundifolia.

The variation of the biological activities among species was linked to that of their essential oil composition. The spontaneous species M. pulegium and M. rotundifolia revealing attractive chemotypes and biological activities may be included in Tunisian national mint culture programs.

KEYWORDS:

• Mentha
• essential oil
• antioxidant activity
• antimicrobial activity

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Tunisian Ministry of high Education and Scientific Research and the National Institute of Applied Science and Technology for their financial support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Tunisan ministry of higher education and scientific research, Nanobiotechnology Research Unit and Valorization of Medicinal Phytomedical Resources (UR17ES22), Institut National des Sciences appliquées et de Technologie Centre Urbain Nord BP 676-1080 Tunis Cedex.